Packing for an MUSD fall-break trip can include one more local errand that does not require a drive: submitting a House Watch request to the Maricopa Police Department.
MPD offers the vacation-watch service to City of Maricopa residents who will be gone for a few days or for a longer seasonal absence. After a resident submits the online form, volunteer members of the department's Citizens on Patrol unit check the registered property at least once a week. The department says it strives for daily checks when staffing allows.
With MUSD fall break scheduled for Sept. 28 through Oct. 9, residents traveling during that window can submit the request before leaving.
What volunteers look for
House Watch is an exterior property check. MPD says volunteers look for:
Doors that should be closed
Closed, unbroken windows
Closed gates and garage doors
Unknown vehicles in the driveway
Newspapers, door hangers or other material accumulating outside
If volunteers see something out of the ordinary or an incident occurs at the property, MPD says it will notify the resident or a local designee.
The frequency language is worth reading carefully. The department commits to checks at least once a week and says it tries to visit once a day when staffing allows. A request should not be described as guaranteed daily surveillance.
Information to gather before opening the form
The online House Watch request asks for more than an address and travel dates. Gathering the details first makes the form easier to complete.
Residents will need to provide:
Name, phone number and email address
Home address and subdivision
Watch start and end dates
Reason for the request, such as vacation, business travel or a seasonal absence
Whether volunteers may remove visible flyers and solicitation material
Descriptions of vehicles left in the driveway
A local emergency contact and whether that person has a key
Information about pets and any pet caregiver entering the home
Details about expected visitors
The expected-visitor and vehicle fields help volunteers distinguish ordinary activity from something that may require attention. If a neighbor, family member, cleaner or pet sitter will be stopping by, list that person rather than leaving the activity unexplained.
If the trip dates change
MPD directs residents to call the non-emergency line at 520-568-3673 if the House Watch end date needs to be shortened or extended. General questions about the program can go to Police Administration at 520-316-6800.
The form includes a list of City subdivisions and an “Other” field. Because the Police Department describes the service specifically as a program for city residents, someone outside Maricopa city limits should contact the law-enforcement agency serving that address instead of assuming MPD covers it.
Families can pair the request with other simple preparations: tell the listed local contact where to find the information they may need, make sure expected vehicles and visitors match the form and update MPD if the return date moves.
For other local government and safety contacts, use OurMaricopa's Community and Public Services directory. Travelers can also check Maricopa weather and SR 347 traffic conditions before the drive. MUSD families can review the conference and fall-break schedule before making plans.
The request takes planning before the house is empty. Completing it now gives MPD the dates, contacts and expected activity its volunteers need to make the checks useful.
Sources
City of Maricopa Police Department — House Watch. Police Department service page. Undated page; accessed Sept. 22, 2026. Source for eligibility, inspection items, volunteer check frequency and contact numbers.
City of Maricopa Police Department — House Watch Request. Current online request form. Undated page; accessed Sept. 22, 2026. Source for required form fields and the non-emergency number for date changes. The form was inspected but not submitted.
Maricopa Unified School District — 2026–2027 School Year Calendar. Official calendar PDF. Accessed Sept. 22, 2026. Source for the Sept. 28–Oct. 9 fall-break dates.
Cover: Original AI-generated editorial illustration by OurMaricopa; it does not depict a documented scene.